Mine haulage system and apparatus therefor



Nov. 25, 1941. .1, D. RUSSELL 2,264,007

MINE HAULAGE SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR I I Filed June 8, 1940 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l LLUII.||lllllIIIIIIIlllllllIIIIHIIIIIIIlllllllllllllIllllIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIHI llllllllllllllllll|IIIII IIIIIQIIIIIHIHW llIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIII llllIIllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIII lllllllIlllllllIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I i i QM w llllllllllllIIIIIIIHI'HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFH I 2% E F) E INVENTOR. E JOHNQRUSSELL E BYWMWX/W E ATTORNEY.

Nov. 25, 1941. J. D. RUSSELL 3 2,264,007

MINE HAULAGE SYSTEM AND APPARATiIS THEREFOR Fild June s, 1946 s sheets-sheet 2 1'! i I'I'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII'II/ INVENTOR. JOHN D. RUSSELL WM WWW ATTORNEYX Nov. 25, 1941. J. D. RUSSELL 2,254,007

' MINE HAULAGE SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed June 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V EN TOR. JOHN D. RUSSELL Patented Nov. 25, 1941 MINE HAULAGE SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR John D. Russell, Sugarcreek Township, Venango County, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 8, 1940, Serial No. 339,570

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the mining of coal and other minerals in underground mine chambers, and more particularly to a new and improved mine haulage and power distributing sys-- tern and to apparatus for use therein.

Coal mining in the United States is generally carried on in underground pits by what is commonly known as the room and pillar system or variation of that system. In the most simplified form of the room and pillar system, a series of parallel headings, usually two or three in number, commonly referred to as the main entries, are driven from the shaft, slope, or drift to the property line of the coal fieldbeing developed, which form the air courses and main haulage lines of the mine. Turning off at right angles from the main entries, on perhaps 2000' centers, are panel entries, which are driven to a depth of approximately 2000, and the rooms from which the coal is produced are turned off at right angles from these panel entries on 50' centers. Rooms are generally driven to a depth of approximately 300'.

At the present time, the great majority of the mines operating on the room and pillar method carry the coal from the working faces in the rooms to the coal preparation plant at the surface in mine cars which travel on track rails laid in the main entries, and in the panel entries, which form the secondary haulage lines, and into the rooms on track temporarily placed therein. As soon as a room has been mined out, the track in that room is removed and conveyed to a new room, and as soon as a panel has been worked out, all the track in the panel is also taken up and the panel is abandoned. This laying and removing of track in the rooms and panel entries not only takes time, but it materially affects the cost of producing coal, and in some instances these costs are so high that the mine cannot be operated profitably.

As a result of my invention disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,192,650, several operators are now using self-propelled haulage vehicles which travel between the loading position at the working place and an unloading or discharge station in the panel entry. These shuttle cars, which are mounted on pneumatic tired wheels, eliminate the necessity of laying track in the various rooms, are electrically powered and current for operating the motors is furnished either from storage batteries carried by the car or through a cable which is wound on a reel on the car and has its free end secured to the main power line in the panel entry.

While these cars have materially decreased the cost of producing coal in underground mines, it is the object of the present invention to provide a haulage system for coal mines wherein the cost of produced coal per ton will be further reduced,

- since the necessity for laying trackin the panel entries of the mine, as well as in the rooms, is eliminated, and the coal is conveyed from the room direct to the main haulage entry in cars of the type disclosed in the aforesaid patent, where it is transferred to mine cars or'oth'er haulage devices operating solely therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mine haulage system for underground pits in which the coal is conveyed direct from the working face in the room through the panel entry to the main haulage entry in pneumatic tired vehicles supplied with power through power collectors adapted to travel with the vehicle as it moves along the panel entry, and to remain at a fixed point while'the car travels into the room.

A further object is to provide a device for delivering power to an electrically operated vehicle equipped with a cable wound on an automatic spooling member, which is adapted to travel in a predetermined path so that the device is capable of traveling with the vehicle as the vehicle moves in a path substantially to the path of travel of the device, and with which means are provided for holding the device stationary as the car is driven for a distance equal to the length of the cable in an angular direction to the path of travel of said device.

A still further object is to provide a device for supplying power to mine haulage vehicles and 7 other mobile equipment used in mining which is mounted to travel in a predetermined path in the mine chambers, and having the conductor attached thereto leading to the vehicle or other equipment being supplied with power, which is continuously supplied with power throughout the length of its travel. I A still further object is to provide a mine haulage system in which two or more self-propelled vehicles having trailing cables for supplying power thereto are operated in the mine simultaneously without entangling the said cables, and provision is made whereby the vehicles may readily pass each other without "disconnecting the cable of either from the source of power.

These and other objects which will hereinafter be made apparent to those skilled in this particular art, are accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is'describe d "in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mine lay-out provided with a power distributing system in accordance with my invention, and for supplying power to one or more haulage vehicles having a trailing cable thereon for supplying power from the collecting device to the vehicle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IIII of Fig.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the trolley collector for supplying power to the vehicle;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig, 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the relative position of the trolley collector and a haulage vehicle when the vehicle is moving in the path substantially parallel to the path of travel of the trolley collector; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line VI-VI of Fig. '1 showing the position of the trolley collector when the vehicle is moving into one of the Working places of the mine.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, a portion" of a mine being developed on the room and pillar system is illustrated, having a main entry I0 leading from the bottom of the shaft or. slope where the coal is delivered to thesurface to the boundary of the coal field being developed, and panel entries I I turned oil at right angles from the main entry III. The entry In forms the main haulage line of the mine and rails are laid therein to provide a track I2 on which mine cars I3 are adapted to travel for transporting coal from the working places to the coal preparation plant on the surface. The coal is produced in working places or rooms I4, turned off from the panel entry II and with which they communicate through passages or room neck I5. The rooms I4 are separated from each other by pillars I6, and as the depth of the rooms increases, cross-cuts I1 are driven through the pillars I6 at regular spaced intervals therein to provide communication and ventilation passages between the adjacent rooms I4.

While I have shown the main entry I0 being provided with tracks I2, it is understood that other means, such as endless belts, may be installed in the entry I9 for transporting the coal therethrough and which form the main haulage of the mine.

In order to transport the coal from the Working places or rooms I4 to the main haulage entry I0, where it is transferred to the cars I3, an electrically driven load carrying vehicle I9 is provided, which is mounted on pneumatic tired wheels 29 so that it can readily travel throughout the panel entry II, rooms I4 and cross-cuts II without having tracks laid therein.

The vehicle I9, which is of the self-unloading type and is provided with a conveyor'bottom 2I, has a relatively long trailing cable 22 attached thereto through which power is supplied to the motors of the vehicle. Cable 22 is wound on an automatic spoolingdevice or reel 23 of a character and construction well known in this art and commonly referred to as a cable reel, which is mounted on the side of the vehicle I9 and adapted to play-out the cable as the vehicle is moving in a direction away from the source of power, and to reel-in the cable as the vehicle is moving in the opposite direction or toward the source of power.

The other end of the cable 22 is attached to a wheeled trolley collector 24 mounted to travel on a rail 25 of substantially inverted T shape in section, which is bolted to expansion bolts 26 depending from the roof of the panel entry I I and imbedded either in the cross beams which support the roof of thepanel entry or in the roof of the entry itself.

The trolley 24 forms a collector for supplying electrical power to the vehicle I9, and one conductor of the cable 22 is connected by a wire 21 with a contact 28 electrically connected to spring pressed rollers 29 bearing against the bottom of the rail 25, which is grounded to provide the negative conductor of an electrical circuit. The other conductor of the cable is connected by a wire 30 with an insulated contact 3|, which is electrically connected to a sliding collector 32 yieldingly urged against a wire 33 by means of a spring 34, which is mounted between the sliding collector and the body of the trolley collector. Wire 33 forms the positive conductor of the electrical circuit and is supported at intervals along its length in clamps 35 mounted on the ends of wire supporting members 36, which are secured to insulators 31 mounted on the expansion bolts 26.

As stated, the rail 25 is suspended from the roof of the entry II and extends for a distance substantially equal to the length of that entry, and passes each of the room necks I5 turned ofi of said entry. At the entrance to each room neck I 5, the rail 25 is provided with an electrified switch 40, which normally forms a continuation of the rail 25, but when thrown to one side connects the rail 25 with' a short section of rail 4I suspended from the roof of the mine and projecting a short way into the room neck I5. Rail 4| is electrically connected to the rail 25 and also carries a wire conductor 42, which is suitably insulated therefrom and which is electrically connected to the conductor wire 33.

Vehicle I9 is employed to transport coal from the working places or rooms I4 to the entry II], where it unloads into an elevating conveyor 44, which delivers the coal into the mine cars I3 or other main' haulage equipment. Assuming that the car I9 has just delivered a load to the elevating conveyor 44, and is about to return to one of the rooms I4 for another load, the operator drives the car through the panel entry II until he comes to the room neck of the room being worked and which he desires to enter. As the car I9 moves along the panel in a path substantially parallel to the path of travel of the collector 24, it is pulled along the track 25 by the car, and travels with the car during its travel through-the panel entry. When the vehicle arrives at the room being worked, the operator throws the switch 40 adjacent the room neck I5 of the room and'drives the vehicle into the room. The trolley 24, which is then traveling with the car, passes onto the switch 40 and is side tracked onto the short section of track 4| in the room neck, which it passes until it comes in contact with an end-stop 45 on the end of the rail. Further movement of the trolley 24 is then prevented and the tension on the cable 22 resulting from the further travel of the car I9 causes the cable reel 23 to unwind and permits the carto move further and further into the room, away from the trolley collector 24, until it comes to the working place. After the car has been loaded, the operator reverses the motors on the vehicle I9 and drives the vehicle toward the entry II. At the car approaches or moves toward the -trolley 24, :or toward the source of power, the reel 23 automatically-reels in or winds 'up the cable 22, until theca'r'pa'sse's under therail 41, at which time the trolley is again picked up by the vehicle and caused to travel over the track M, switch 4i] and onto the rail 25. a

From the foregoing description of my invention it is apparent that two or more vehicles I9 may be worked in a single entry without danger of having the cables become tangled. Suppose, for example, that the second room to the left, as illustrated in Fig. 1 and designated as Mb, were being loaded out and two cars were being employed for that purpose. Under these conditions the operator of the first car, as he approaches the first room, would throw the switch 40 adjacent the room neck I5 of that room and would pass through the room neck I50, into the first room Ma. As soon as the trolley 2d had cleared the switch 40, he would again throw or return the switch to its initial position to provide a clear continuous track rail in the panel entry ll so that following cars could pass therethrough without interruption. After returning the switch to its original position, the operator of the car would then drive the car into the room Ma and thence through the first cross-cut H in the dividing pillar l6, into the room Mb, where the car would be loaded. After loading the first car I9 would return to the unloading station or elevating conveyor 44 over the path in which he originally entered the room l lb.

Meanwhile the operator of the second car would drive his car along the panel entry H until he came to the room neck l5b leading into second room Mb. By operating the switch 40 adjacent the room neck l5b, the operator would transfer the trolley 24 of his car from the main rail 25 onto the side rail 4|, and by throwing the switch to its original position, the main rail 25 would again be open to permit other cars to pass along the entry ll. After resetting the switch, the operator of the second car would proceed into the room 14b by playing-out the cable 22 and place the car in position to be loaded.

If two cars should meet in the entry I I, passage thereof can be readily accomplished by switching the unloaded car and its trolley into the nearest room neck. With the car in this position, the other car continues its travel in the entry, and as soon as it has cleared the switch 40 leading into the room neck in which the unloaded car is waiting, the operator of that car by operating the switch can readily move his car and the trolley collector 24 associated therewith back into the entry H, and after returning the switch to its original position, continue traveling in the entry H to the point of destination.

While I have shown the track 25 as being suspended from the roof of the mine of panel entry I I, it is understood that the rail may be suspended from either side of the entry, as well as in the center, and that in certain instances the rail, if

desired, may be mounted on the props supporting the roof along the side or rib of the panel entry.

Further, while I have illustrated and described the trolley collector in connection with a selfpropelled coal transporting vehicle, it is understood that the collector may be used to furnish power to any electrically operated device in the mine, and that with my improved device power may be supplied to any desired area of the mine on either side-of the rail, and wire forming the source of power, and that the distance andsize of the area is determined and limited only by the length of the cable attached to the traveling trolleycollect'or.

It-is also understood that certain additions, changes, omissions, substitutions and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A haulage system for underground mines having a haulage entry and a plurality of rooms turned off from at least one side of said entry, comprising an electrically operated vehicle of the trackless type adapted to travel in said entry and rooms, an automatic spooling device mounted on said vehicle, a flexible cable wound on said spooling device and having one end connected to said vehicle for supplying power thereto, a power collector to which the opposite end of said cable is connected, an electrified track mounted in said entry and extending past the entrances to the rooms turned therefrom, said trolley being mounted on said track for movement therealong as said vehicle travels in said entry, and means opposite the entrance to each room for shifting said trolley from said track and for bringing said trolley to a stop adjacent such entrance whereby movement of said vehicle into a room will cause said spooling device to play out said cable, said trolley being adapted to conduct current to said cable both while moving along the track in the entry and while stopped adjacent the entrance to a room.

2. A haulage system for underground mines having a haulage entry and a plurality of working rooms turned off from at least one side of said entry, comprising an electrically operated pneumatic tired material carrying vehicle adapted to travel in said entry and rooms, an automatic spooling device carried by said vehicle, a flexible cable wound on said spooling device and having one end connected to said vehicle for supplying power thereto, a power collecting trolley to which the opposite end of said cable is connected, an electrified track mounted in said entry and extending past the entrances to the rooms turned therefrom, said trolley being mounted on said track for movement therealong as said vehicle travels in said entry, a short section of electrified track at the entrance to each room and means for shifting said trolley from said main track to said short sections of track when it is desired to enter a room, each of said short track sections termihating at the entrance to a room whereby movement of the vehicle into a room will cause said spooling device to play out said cable, said trolley being adapted to conduct current to said cable from both the short sections of track and the main track.

3. A haulage system for underground mines having a haulage entry and a series of working rooms turned off from at least one side thereof, comprising an electrically operated material carrying vehicle of the trackless type adapted to travel in the entry and rooms, an automatic spooling device mounted on said vehicle, a flexible cable wound on said spooling device and having one end connected to said vehicle for supplying power thereto, a power collector trolley to which the opposite end of said cable is connected, an electrified main track mounted in said entry and extending past the entrances to said ment of the vehicle into a room will cause said spooling device to play out-said cable, said trolley being adapted to conduct current to said cable while on a short branch track, as well as on the 5 main track in said entry.

JOHN D. RUSSELL. 

